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Well done on your and Alli's AT Thru hike preparations. These things don't happen by accident with out researching and putting time and effort into it. Looks like you have your gear dialed in fairly well. Great trail reviews too, looking forward to reading more about your journey and adventure.

The good advice you received from the guy at Mahoosic Notch. Basically saying to go through it slow and you will enjoy it. Might be worth remembering for other parts of your journey.

Wishing you both good hiking, traveling and blessings plus much trail magic to boot.

Thanks for the encouraging words folks. We are doing good. currently in Manchester Center Vermont.

Our go to ground option is an 8"*20" Walmart pad.....The $6 blue foam pad cut down. I use that as the back pad in my pack that I made as well. A better option may be a Walmart blue foam pad cut down so that it covers your shoulder to just past your hip bone. A few more ounces, you can think about its value to you.

We have went to ground twice. Actually, harder than ground. We did work for stay at the huts in the white mtns, and slept on their wood floors. It was fine for a couple nights.

To me, if you are only going to ground in a pinch, then you can get by with just a small pad that can be also used as sitpad or backpad in a lightweight pack. YMMV, I go as light as I can.

one of my customers told me via cell phone convo (as he lay in is hammock) that more than 25% of shelters are hammocks on the AT. He then told me that he could visibly see 15 hangers in the area he made camp.. man! nothing like that out here on the west coast. i'd say hangers are about 3-5% of backpackers.. hopefully, that will change.

Seeing an Orthopedist on Monday about the ankle...doctor visit on Friday wasn't too positive about getting on the trail again quickly, but he may being overly conservative.

Regarding # of hammocks on the AT: 25% would be really high compared to what we have seen....but we had only been on 650 miles of the trail. Our last night, before getting off to lay off my ankle for a bit, had 5 hammocks at the site. It was enough of an anomaly that we took a photo. Prior to that night, we had only seen one other hammock setup at a campsite. We know of a couple others that were hangers just from conversation.

Hammocking is definitely growing in interest however as people are pretty inquisitive. I expect we will see more as we continue southward.

We met South of Ore Hill Shelter on July 27. Glad the bootfitter in Manchester Center was able to help you out. It is good to hear your trip is progressing well and I will follow the journal to keep up.

Good luck and Safe travels

Tom

Life's A Journey
It's not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body,
But rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting,
Woo Hoo!....What a Ride!